Renowned filmmaker Aaron Kaufman, celebrated for his impactful documentary on the Ukraine conflict, Superpower, passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the age of 51. The head of Verdi Productions, Chard Verdi, conveyed this sorrowful news to The Hollywood Reporter through an official statement.
“It’s a profoundly sad time for all who cherished Aaron,”Verdi expressed in his email to The Hollywood Reporter.
Reports indicate that Kaufman was in Las Vegas when he experienced an apparent heart attack.
“Aaron left us Thursday night. We spoke on the phone about 20 minutes before emergency services were called. He sounded joyous and was preparing to go to dinner. Life is fleeting, and family and friends mean everything. Already, I miss him dearly,”Verdi remarked.
Prior to Superpower, which brought him an Emmy nomination, Kaufman contributed to various prominent films including Machete, Urge (2016), Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014), and Crusaders: Ex Jehovah’s Witnesses Speak Out (2021).
Aaron Kaufman’s Passion for Filmmaking Sparked by Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing
Born on Long Island, New York, Aaron Kaufman’s journey into filmmaking ignited at the age of 14 when he viewed Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.
“I always loved cinema, but I never considered the role of a director. Watching Do the Right Thing at 14 flipped a switch in me. It was packed with elements I had never encountered in film. It delivered a powerful message with incredible energy. It was truly remarkable,”Kaufman shared in a 2014 interview with Fast Company.
As detailed in Fast Company’s 2014 interview, Kaufman aspired to forge a career in film and began studying at New York University, but faced disapproval from his father, who persuaded him to discontinue his studies.
At 21, he tied the knot and welcomed his first child a year later. By the age of 24, Kaufman founded Fountainhead Studios, an animation company, which he sold shortly thereafter to pursue opportunities in the entertainment sector, starting with Palm Pictures under Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
As per his 2012 profile on the Doha Film Institute’s site, Kaufman launched Barbarian Film Group in the early 2000s, where he served as executive producer on projects like The Greatest (2009) and Spread (2009).
His reputation caught the attention of director Robert Rodriguez, leading to a six-year collaboration at Troublemaker Studios and Quick Draw Productions, which resulted in hits such as Machete (2010), its sequel Machete Kills (2013), and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014).
During this period, Kaufman also produced several films, including 13 (2010), Chef (2014), and Flock of Dudes (2016). Following the conclusion of his partnership with Rodriguez, he embraced his directing dreams. In an August 2015 interview with HuffPost, he stated:
“My 15 years as a movie producer were fulfilling. I enjoyed it immensely. However, being a producer feels like being in a wonderful relationship, but constantly leaving the person at someone else’s place at night. Directors truly get to engage in the creative aspects.”
While Kaufman’s directorial debut, Urge (2016), received mixed reviews, his subsequent films, Crusaders: Ex Jehovah’s Witnesses Speak Out (2021) and Superpower (2023), garnered him significant recognition.
As per Variety, quoting Amber Scorah, a friend and interviewee for Crusaders, noted:
“Aaron was the type of individual who quietly supported everyone behind the scenes, even after others moved on or when it didn’t offer him any recognition.”
In his conversation with HuffPost, Aaron Kaufman acknowledged Roger Smith, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Sydney Lumet, and Chris Blackwell as pivotal influences in his career.
Before his untimely passing, it was reported by The Hollywood Reporter that Kaufman was in the midst of directing Stealing Don Ho and Iron Birds (both films completed) and was also slated to produce The Jet (currently in pre-production).
Survived by his three children, partner Kea (Don Ho’s daughter), mother, and siblings, Aaron Kaufman leaves behind a legacy that resonates within the film industry.
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